[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 214 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68427-68429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28244]
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FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
12 CFR Parts 600 and 606
RIN 3052-AD08
Organization and Functions; Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on
the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Farm
Credit Administration; Organization of the Farm Credit Administration
AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, our or Agency) issues
a final rule amending our regulations in order to reflect internal
organization changes. Another amendment updates a statutory citation
for the Farm Credit Act.
DATES: This regulation shall become effective no earlier than 30 days
after publication in the Federal Register during which either or both
Houses of Congress are in session. We will publish
[[Page 68428]]
notice of the effective date in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael T. Wilson, Policy Analyst, Office of Regulatory Policy, Farm
Credit Administration, McLean, VA 22102-5090, (703) 883-4124, TTY (703)
883-4056,
or
Jane Virga, Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Farm Credit
Administration, McLean, VA 22102-5090, (703) 883-4071, TTY (703) 883-
4056.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Objective
The objective of this final rule is to reflect changes to the FCA's
organization and identification of those FCA employees responsible for
various functions. The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552,
requires, in part, that each Federal agency publish in the Federal
Register for the guidance of the public a description of its
organization structure. Another amendment updates the statutory
citation for the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended (Act).
We revise the regulations by:
(1) In Sec. 600.1, adding a citation for the Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246, June 18, 2008, (section
5401-5407), which revised the statutory citation for the Act.
(2) In Sec. 600.4:
(a) Including the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Office of
Information Technology, Designated Agency Ethics Official, and Equal
Employment Opportunity and Inclusion in FCA's organizational structure
and a description of their functions; and
(b) Amending the responsibilities of the Office of Management
Services to remove the function of administering FCA's information
resources management program;
(3) In Sec. 606.670, removing from paragraph (i) the words
``Director, Equal Employment Opportunity'' and adding in their place
the words ``Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Director''.
II. Certain Finding
We have determined that the amendments involve Agency management
and personnel and other minor technical changes.
Therefore, the amendments do not constitute a rulemaking under the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 551, 553(a)(2). Under the
APA, the public may participate in the promulgation of rules that have
a substantial impact on the public. The amendments to our regulations
relate to Agency management and personnel and a minor technical change
only and have no direct impact on the public and, therefore, do not
require public participation.
Even if these amendments were a rulemaking under 5 U.S.C. 551,
553(a)(2) of the APA, we have determined that notice and public comment
are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Under 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(A) and (B) of the APA, an agency may publish regulations in
final form when they involve matters of agency organization or where
the agency for good cause finds that notice and public comment are
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. As
discussed above, this amendment results from recent office
reorganizations. Because the amendments will provide accurate and
current information on the organization of the FCA and update the
citation to the Act, it would be contrary to the public interest to
delay amending the regulations.
III. Regulatory Flexibility Act
Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), FCA hereby certifies that the final rule will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. Each of the banks in the Farm Credit System (System),
considered together with its affiliated associations, has assets and
annual income in excess of the amounts that would qualify them as small
entities. Therefore, System institutions are not ``small entities'' as
defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects
12 CFR Part 600
Organization and functions (Government agencies).
12 CFR Part 606
Administrative practice and procedure, Civil rights, Equal
employment opportunity, Federal buildings and facilities, Individuals
with disabilities.
As stated in the preamble, parts 600 and 606 of chapter VI, title
12 of the Code of Federal Regulations are amended as follows:
PART 600--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 600 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 5.11, 5.17, 8.11 of the
Farm Credit Act (12 U.S.C. 2241, 2242, 2243, 2244, 2245, 2252,
2279aa-11).
0
2. Revise Sec. 600.1 to read as follows:
Sec. 600.1 The Farm Credit Act.
The Farm Credit Act of 1971, Public Law 92-181 recodified and
replaced the prior laws under which the Farm Credit Administration
(FCA) and the institutions of the Farm Credit System (System or FCS)
were organized and operated. The prior laws, which were repealed and
superseded by the Act, are identified in section 5.40(a) of the Act.
Subsequent amendments to the Act and enactment dates are as follows:
Public Law 94-184, December 31, 1975; Public Law 95-443, October 10,
1978; Public Law 96-592, December 24, 1980; Public Law 99-190, December
19, 1985; Public Law 99-198, December 23, 1985; Public Law 99-205,
December 23, 1985; Public Law 99-509, October 21, 1986; Public Law 100-
233, January 6, 1988; Public Law 100-399, August 17, 1988; Public Law
100-460, October 1, 1988; Public Law 101-73, August 9, 1989; Public Law
101-220, December 12, 1989; Public Law 101-624, November 28, 1990;
Public Law 102-237, December 13, 1991; Public Law 102-552, October 28,
1992; Public Law 103-376, October 19, 1994; Public Law 104-105,
February 10, 1996; Public Law 104-316, October 19, 1996; Public Law
107-171, May 13, 2002; Public Law 110-246, June 18, 2008. The law is
codified at 12 U.S.C. 2000, et seq.
0
3. Revise Sec. 600.4 to read as follows:
Sec. 600.4 Organization of the Farm Credit Administration.
(a) Offices and functions. The primary offices of the FCA are:
(1) Office of Congressional and Public Affairs. The Office of
Congressional and Public Affairs performs Congressional liaison duties
and coordinates and disseminates Agency communications.
(2) Office of Examination. The Office of Examination evaluates the
safety and soundness of FCS institutions and their compliance with law
and regulations and manages FCA's enforcement and supervision
functions.
(3) Office of General Counsel. The Office of General Counsel
provides legal advice and services to the FCA Chairman, the FCA Board,
and Agency staff.
(4) Office of Inspector General. The Office of Inspector General
conducts independent audits, inspections, and investigations of Agency
programs and operations and reviews proposed legislation and
regulations.
(5) Office of Regulatory Policy. The Office of Regulatory Policy
develops policies and regulations for the FCA Board's consideration;
evaluates regulatory and statutory prior approvals;
[[Page 68429]]
manages the Agency's chartering activities; and analyzes policy and
strategic risks to the System.
(6) Office of Management Services. The Office of Management
Services provides financial management services. It administers the
Agency's human resources management program, contracts, procurement,
mail services, and payroll.
(7) Office of Secondary Market Oversight. The Office of Secondary
Market Oversight regulates and examines the Federal Agricultural
Mortgage Corporation for safety and soundness and compliance with law
and regulations.
(8) Secretary to the Board. The Secretary to the Board serves as
the parliamentarian for the Board and keeps permanent and complete
records and minutes of the acts and proceedings of the Board.
(9) Office of the Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating
Officer has broad responsibility for planning, directing, and
controlling the operations of the Offices of Management Services,
Information Technology, Examination, Regulatory Policy, and General
Counsel in accordance with the operating philosophy and policies of the
FCA Board.
(10) Designated Agency Ethics Official. The Designated Agency
Ethics Official is designated by the FCA Chairman to administer the
provisions of title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as
amended, to coordinate and manage FCA's ethics program, and to provide
liaison to the Office of Government Ethics with regard to all aspects
of FCA's ethics program.
(11) Office of Information Technology. The Office of Information
Technology manages information resources management program and
delivers the Agency's information technology, data analysis
infrastructure, and the security supporting Agency technology
resources.
(12) Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion. The Office of
Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion manages and directs the
Agency-wide Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity
Program for FCA and FCSIC. The office serves as the chief liaison with
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Personnel
Management on all Equal Employment Opportunity, diversity, and
inclusion issues. The office provides counsel and leadership to Agency
management to carry out its continuing policy and program of
nondiscrimination, affirmative action, and diversity.
(b) Additional Information. You may obtain more information on the
FCA's organization by visiting our Web site at http://www.fca.gov. You
may also contact the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs:
(1) In writing at FCA, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, Virginia
22102-5090;
(2) By email at [email protected]; or
(3) By telephone at (703) 883-4056.
PART 606--ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP
IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE FARM CREDIT
ADMINISTRATION
0
4. The authority citation for part 606 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 794.
Sec. 606.670 [Amended]
0
5. Amend Sec. 606.670 by removing the words ``Director, Equal
Employment Opportunity'' and adding in their place, the words ``Equal
Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Director'' in paragraph (i).
Dated: October 30, 2015.
Dale L. Aultman,
Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
[FR Doc. 2015-28244 Filed 11-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6705-01-P